Pint of Contention

King Family, Book 3

De: Susannah Nix

Narrado por: Chris Brinkley, Amanda Stribling

They’ve both got good reasons to fight falling in love, but they can’t resist the overpowering attraction pulling them together…

Maggie: Wicked Witch. Ballbuster. The Terminator. Those are just a few of the nicknames I’ve earned in my professional life. As the executive consultant King’s Creamery has brought in to save them from financial ruin, I have to decide which employees get the ax. I can’t afford to make friends or get chummy with my new neighbors.

Try telling that to the enormous, hunky fireman next door, who’s annoyingly determined to make friends with me. It’s not enough that the guy saves kittens from trees, tosses tree trunks around while wearing a kilt, and has a body that makes Thor look puny. He also works out shirtless in full view of my kitchen window. I might be secretly obsessed.

When a newspaper exposé turns the whole town against me, my hot fireman neighbor steps up to act as my protector, and my secret obsession threatens to turn into a case of serious feelings. But I can’t allow that to happen when I’m only here temporarily. I’ve got to keep my walls up to protect the heart everyone thinks I don’t have.

Ryan: My new neighbor might act like she wants nothing to do with me, but I’ve seen her watching me from her window. I can tell she likes what she sees, and I love pushing her buttons—a little too much. I’ve got no restraint when it comes to this woman.

Now I’m screwed, because I can’t get her out of my head. The more time I spend with Maggie, the more I suspect she might be the soulmate I’ve been waiting for all my life.

Of course I’d find her now when I can’t risk letting her get too close. If she does, she might discover the secret I’ve been keeping from everyone.

Soulmate or not, I’ve got to let her go. Even if it kills me.

Pint of Contention is the third audiobook in the King Family series, set in the small town of Crowder, Texas, home of the King’s Creamery ice cream company. Each audiobook is a stand-alone, full-length contemporary romance that follows one of the six King siblings as they find and fight for love.

©2022 Susannah Nix (P)2022 Susannah Nix

Fantastic story with great narration

Once again Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling do an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed reading the book but the audiobook brings a whole different experience. I really love Chris and Amanda’s portrayal of these characters and the voice they gave each of them. I binge read Pint of Contention because I needed to know what happened. I adored this enemies to lovers (one sided at first), hot fire fighter, badass business woman and next door neighbor wonderfulness!!! Maggie’s has a reputation and is laying low while in town to do her job. She is very direct, good at her job but has a wall up a mile high to keep people/relationships out. Ryan is a hot firefighter then enjoys working out in his garage, helping others but keeps a safe distance from his family’s business. The King family is something else and always has some type of drama going on. Ryan and Maggie do their best to stay out of it but papa King has mighty strong pull. I enjoyed this book so much - the banter, Ryan harassing Maggie, the angst/desire and fun these two have makes the book an easy read. The kitchen window scenes are some of my favorite!

Fun & Angsty Small-Town Romance

“My brain had rewritten the code for normal, and my old normal felt as alien as a distant, inhospitable planet.”

Pint of Contention by Susannah Nix is my favorite in the King’s Creamery series so far! From page one, my heart went out to Ryan. Maggie is a management consultant hired to streamline business operations at King’s Creamery. Ryan is reeling from ominous news he received years ago. Ryan is an enigma; he’s closed off to love, kind-hearted, fit firefighter. Ryan’s life of self-imposed solitude is disrupted by the beguiling, buttoned-up vixen next door. Maggie is accustomed to constant travel and keeping to herself while on a job. But can the ice queen resist the magnetism of the ginger tower of a man next door? Pint of Contention has the most emotional risk & payoff of the series so far. Ryan’s angst and Maggie’s stoic & sassy character drew me in. Their witty back and forth and endearing charm kept emotionally invested. King family dynamics continue to fall into place as get-togethers reveal more about each sibling. If you love a heartfelt, fake relationship, small-town romance, Pint of Contention is a must-listen.

Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling have outdone themselves in Pint of Contention. Chris gives an emotionally raw performance as he brings Ryan’s vulnerability and quiet suffering off the page. Amanda is fab as the staunch professional, smart-ass, beguiling Maggie. I always enjoy Susannah’s characters, but there was something special about the complexity of Ryan and Maggie. Chris and Amanda’s narrations brought these dynamic characters, and all the quirky side characters to life is such a charming way.

Maggie and Ryan

The narration on this was fantastic. These two narrators are so good. I really enjoyed this book. Not as much as the previous two in the series but this was still a good book. I just love the King family series. Ryan and Maggie are complete opposites but have one thing in common, both are not looking for a relationship. The two finally give in and they truly have amazing chemistry. Being that they are older and more set in their ways they have some personal challenges to overcome but soon find comfort in each other. This was a heartfelt read that touched on some serious topics. Overall good read.

I was sent a free audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Over 40 hot romance!

This is one of those hidden gems! A second chance at love relationship, and smokin hot to boot. Great read.

Ryan and Maggie!

A story with characters who are older?!?! Say less! I've been loving the King Creamery series so this one was right up my alley. While I have read the first two books in the series, each book can be read as a standalone. The author gives brief recaps of the secondary characters who have already been in previous books without feeling like their story is being retold. There are several offspring of George King whose stories need to be told.

Ryan McCafferty is George's step-son. He was lucky enough to escape having to work for the King himself and instead works as a firefighter. Ryan was surprised that George was in contact with his biological father as he hadn't heard from him in years. And the reasons why became evident. Learning of his father's passing also brought him some devastating news, news that made him severely allergic to long-term relationships and dating. It was getting increasingly harder and harder for Ryan to avoid Maggie Silvestri. She was his next door neighbor. But Maggie's profession kept her from getting too close to anyone lest they be somehow connected to the business that contracted her to make things run more efficiently. It was easier to be neutral if one was prickly and didn't make friends. Maggie's previous marriage and divorce soured her to long term so doing whatever she was doing with Ryan fit the bill.

Being together, but not together gave them some clarity about life and the choices they've made. It does take the right person to give up the nomadic existence and get answers about those what-if questions. It also bring courage and trust to believe in that thing called love and find a happily ever after that both parties are comfortable with. Susannah Nix brings a unique blend of characters and storylines that make me want to read regardless of what the book may be about. Love that little tidbit at the end about Nate... can't wait for that one!

Amanda Stribling and Chris Brinkley really have these Kings down pat! The emotions and personalities shine through with their gifts of storytelling.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Another fantastic King Family book, & my new fave!

Huge Susannah Nix fan - loving the King Family series and book 3, Pint of Contention, is definitely my fave! I loved books 1&2, but book 3 with the contentious neighbors and the town hating Maggie because of the job she has to do? Pure gold! Plus, Ryan is a character we just got a taste of before and now we really get to love him in all his giant glory.

I really do love a good neighbors romance, especially one where they struggle to deny any attraction for so long (also a slow burn). With Ryan being peripherally related to the King family, as a step sibling, he tries to keep out of the creamery business, but Maggie coming to town as a consultant to turn the sinking ship around and them getting involved brings him right into everything…

Brilliant storyline and done in a totally unique twisty way. Absolutely loved it and 100% recommend this to everyone! A top recommendation from me - audio is always best!!

Audio - Chris Brinkley!! I don’t think I can say enough about Chris. He’s my absolute favorite male narrator and I will buy anything he narrates. I just absolutely love his voice!! Everything is perfect with Chris involved. 10-stars to Chris Brinkley. I also really enjoyed Amanda Stribling - she’s relatively new to me in the audio world but I’ve been hearing more from her recently, and I’ve always found her performance to be excellent!

I received an advance listen copy from Home Cooked Books, and this is my honest feedback.

My favorite! Fun Times! What a gem!

This is my favorite so far! I loved the storyline and the characters! I smirked, laughed and had my heart strings pulled while listening to this one. Ryan I was sooo curious about in the last couple ones. I enjoyed learning more about what makes him tick and his life. He has a wonderful inquisitive and protective nature that kept pushing him along until he got what he wants. Maggie is a perfect match for him. I could not have picked a better female for him. She has her secrets and her reasons for them but her neighbor wont’t give up on getting to know her. Fun times!

I did listen to this gem on audio. Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling did an amazing job narrating. They helped bring this story to life for me. I look forward to more from the King family.

Better than the second book

I definitely liked Ryan and Maggie better than Tanner and Lucy, and their obstacles seemed slightly more difficult to manage, even though I would have handled Ryan’s vastly differently. Amanda Stribling was better in this book than the last as well, and Chris Brinkley is always great.

Great story with a successful FMC in her 40s!

This is, by far, my favorite of the King
Family series.

What’s it about?

Ryan is a stepson to the King family who owns the large ice cream company that employs half the town. But when a letter from his biological father shows up that indicates he may carry the gene for ALS, he pushes away from dating, not wanting to hurt someone if he ends up having the devastating disease.

Maggie is a consultant who’s in town for a short time to help King Ice Cream figure out their dwindling finance problems. That makes her the town’s enemy number one. Her frequent travels mean she never settles down. But when her temporary job lands her in a house next door to Ryan, both of their resolves to not date anyone crumble.

My take:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

🌟 MAGGIE
- A 6-foot talk leading lady. I am here for it! As a tall woman myself, it’s refreshing to see a woman lead who isn’t tiny and delicate.
- She’s in her 40s and killing it in her career. 👑
- She is super intelligent and independent.

RYAN
- He’s like Ferdinand the bull: big on the outside, soft on the inside.
- Stands up to bullies.
- Firefighter with an awesome friend group.
- Likes to dance.
- Scared to commit because he doesn’t want to hurt her.

And oh the CHEMISTRY and SPICE in this one are palpable. Whew! I loved every second of it.

I’ve listened to all of these books so far, and Chris Brinkley may be one of my favorite audiobook narrators. I enjoyed Amanda Sterling much more in this one as she wasn’t forcing a Southern accent most of the time.

I can’t wait for the next in this series!

I love Maggie and Ryan!

Maggie’s not looking to make friends during her temporary stay in the small town of Crowder, Texas, but her hunky firefighter neighbor has other ideas. It’s not enough that the guy saves kittens, tosses tree trunks around while wearing a kilt, and has a body that makes Thor look puny. But when a newspaper exposé turns the town against Maggie, Ryan comes to her defense. Soon her secret obsession with him threatens to turn into a case of serious feelings. The problem is the man she’s falling for is keeping a secret that might tear them apart. 

Ryan and Maggie's relationship is so overwhelmingly emotional at times, and knowing there is an expiration date on their time together, along with the secret Ryan is keeping from everyone who cares about him is simply heart wrenching to listen to – but in very good way. Ryan is such a burly man with a heart of gold and seeing his vulnerable side pulls at my heartstrings something fierce. Maggie herself is such a force to be reckoned with that when she finally lets down her guard, you can’t help but love her and absolutely fall in love with the two of them as a couple. I loved every single bit of their story! Narrators Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling are utter perfection!

If you like small-town romance, a grumpy/sunshine love after forty that involves fake dating, one bad-ass lady boss, and a take charge man that’s not afraid to wear a kilt, then this IS IT!

I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.